What 3-D Printing Means for the Fashion and Retail Industries

Shapeways isn’t the only 3-D printer, but it’s the largest and most well-known. According to an April 23 All Things Digital article, more than 10,000 people have sold over 1 million designs to more than 150,000 customers using Shapeways.

"3-D printing is perfect for fast iterations and custom forms," Scott said. "You can do a weave and a stitch and a mesh at the same time. In a sense you can bury the textile and as a result change the whole way the structure of the garment will work and how it will fit the body. You can make an item exactly fit one person and there's no additional cost for that customization. There's so much potential that hasn't been tapped into yet."